Ranking the best teams in NE Georgia

Last week, we took a look at the best high school football programs in Georgia since 1948.

This week, we cast an eye toward the best teams in Northeast Georgia over that same time span.

These rankings use the same formula as last week: One point is awarded for every victory and 10 points are added for each state championship won. For purposes of these rankings, tradition is basically defined as consistent success over an extended period of time.

Because of that, some teams are at a disadvantage because they have not played football as long as others.

Cedar Shoals would be a good example.

In any attempt to rank teams, there is always a certain amount of subjectivity and I'm sure there are other ways to go about it.

There are certainly teams that deserve credit for having fine programs that do not appear here, and there are others who have shown that they are on the rise.

There are instances in which some schools have changed names or merged with another school. If there was a close association, the records have been combined. Examples would be Clarke Central and Athens High, Elbert County and Elberton, Lincoln County and Lincolnton, and Hart County and Hartwell.

In addition to the points ranking, the top 10 teams have been ranked by winning percentage and by total victories.

If you have ideas about coaches, specific games, rivalries or other historical topics on high school football in Georgia or in Northeast Georgia that would make interesting stories, e-mail them to me. If you have accompanying pictures that would help and can be sent electronically send those along as well. (Please send only a couple of pictures at a time.)

The goal is for high school football fans to enjoy looking back over the years and maybe stir up a little conversation on the events and people of the past in this great sport.

Most of the research for this article came via the information provided by the Georgia High School Football Historians website.